They always tell us that playing sports is good for health. Of course, moderate physical activity is simply necessary to be in good shape and have a healthy body and healthy mind. But, as you know, professional sports are not only money and fame, but also frequent injuries, which sometimes cause the athlete to leave the big sport. In our article, we will analyze one of these diseases - Achilles tendon tendonitis. The treatment of this disease will also be considered.
What is a pathology?
Tendonitis is a disease that is characterized by an inflammatory process in the Achilles tendon. Pathology often develops in people who are professionally involved in sports, that is, undergoing an Achilles tendon strain, which leads to the appearance of the disease.
Below we consider the treatment in more detail. Achilles tendon tendon can develop at an older age, even in those who do not play sports. This is due to age-related changes, the range of motion in the ankle joint is gradually reduced , and the tendon becomes less elastic, which can lead to injury.
What triggers the development of the disease
Are you diagnosed with Achilles tendon tendonitis? Treatment and the causes of this pathology will be considered in the article. To begin with, we dwell in more detail on the factors that provoke the disease:
- Decrease in elasticity with age. The structure of the tendon includes collagen and elastic fibers, which make it strong and extensible. The older a person becomes, the more these indicators decrease, and stress can lead to rupture or damage to tendon fibers. It is connected with this that after 35 years any training should start with a warm-up.
- Heavy loads. As a rule, athletes are exposed to them. Excessive training leads to overstrain of the tendon. A short rest period does not allow the tissues to recover sufficiently and fiber breakage may occur.
- Flat feet with hyperpronation when the foot falls inward. When walking in this position, the tendon stretches more and can be injured.
- Inconvenient shoes, especially for sports training. Incorrect load distribution occurs, which can lead to the development of this pathology. Women's love for high heels may result in the formation of Achilles tendon tendonitis. Treatment in this case is also necessary.
- A growth on the heel (Haglund deformity) in the place where the tendon is attached.
- Infectious diseases can also trigger the development of pathology.
- Some problems with bones and joints, such as arthritis. Different leg lengths.
- The cause of the development of pathology can be gout, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease.
Any of these reasons can lead to the need for serious treatment; Achilles tendon tendonitis on its own will not work. It is advisable to consult a doctor if the first signs appear.
Symptoms of the disease
This disease can occur in two forms:
If there is an acute form of pathology, then the manifestations are possible as follows:
- The appearance of pain during exercise or training. Gradually, the pain subsides, and after resting it completely disappears.
- If you feel the Achilles tendon, then you feel discomfort.
If you give your feet rest, then there is a fusion of micro-fractures, so it seems that everything has passed, but new loads lead to repeated injury.
If you do not pay attention to the symptoms on time, then gradually the pathology becomes chronic, which has the following symptoms:
- Gradual increase in pain.
- During the load, the pain becomes stronger, even warming up and warming up do not help.
- Rest also does not relieve pain, right after waking up you can already feel them.
- During descent or climbing stairs, a pain syndrome develops.
Both chronic and acute forms of the disease can also have the following manifestations:
- The tendon thickens.
- Excessive tension is felt in the calf muscles.
- Mobility may be limited in the ankle region.
- Pain can be felt throughout the tendon or only in the heel area.
- A creak may appear during the movement of the ankle joint.
- It is becoming increasingly difficult to bend the foot and stand on the toes.
It is not necessary to allow chronic tendonitis of the Achilles tendon to develop. Treatment in this case will require a longer and more serious.
Types of disease
An ailment can occur and manifest itself in different ways. Depending on this, several forms of pathology are distinguished:
- Peritendinitis manifests itself as an inflammatory process in the surrounding soft tissues.
- Tendonitis - the Achilles tendon itself is affected, the adjacent tissues are not affected.
- Enthesopathy With this form of the disease, the degenerative process develops at the border with the bone, a heel spur may appear.
Diagnosis of the disease
If Achilles tendon tendonitis is suspected, treatment should begin only after the diagnosis is clarified.
The following methods are used as diagnostic methods:
- Physical examination. The doctor palpates and identifies the places where the pain is most felt.
- Radiation diagnostics, but in the absence of calcifications, it will not help to make an accurate diagnosis.
- MRI can help determine the presence of gaps.
- Ultrasound With its help, you can determine the need for surgical intervention.
- An X-ray examination is also being carried out, it shows the places of the inflammatory process.
After the diagnosis confirms the tendonitis of the Achilles tendon, treatment should be prescribed by a doctor.
Therapy of tendonitis
If the unpleasant sensations in the tendon arose for the first time, then it is enough for a while to limit the load and give rest to the legs. To remove the swelling and redness, you can use ice.
If the pain persists even after resting and reducing the load, you will have to visit a doctor. As a rule, the treatment of this disease is carried out in several directions:
- Conservative therapy.
- Drug treatment.
- Alternative methods of therapy.
- Physiotherapeutic procedures.
- Surgical intervention.
Depending on the severity of the disease, the doctor chooses the treatment tactics.
Medication for tendonitis
If Achilles tendon tendonitis occurs, treatment of ruptures or minor injuries should begin with a reduction in the load and immobilization of this area. There are several ways to do this:
- Apply a splint or plaster.
- Use an elastic bandage.
- Taping.
- The imposition of orthoses, which may partially or completely restrict movement.
It should begin with this, if there is Achilles tendon tendonitis, treatment. The photo shows it well.
Next, the doctor prescribes drug therapy, which includes:
- Reception of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Nimesil, Naklofen.
- If there is an extensive inflammatory process, then antibacterial therapy may be required.
- To relieve pain, you can put a compress overnight using Analgin, Novocaine, or inject an analgesic.
- If Achilles tendon tendinitis is diagnosed, ointment treatment is also possible. For this, they often use Voltaren, Dolobene Gel, and Solcoseryl.
After using drugs to relieve inflammation and reduce pain, you can begin physiotherapeutic procedures.
Physiotherapy against tendonitis
Physiotherapeutic methods are an excellent complement to medical treatment. Most often, the following procedures are prescribed to patients:
- Magnetotherapy.
- Laser treatment.
- Ultrasound treatment
- Shock wave therapy.
- Electrophoresis
- Mud applications.
Properly performed therapy, if Achilles tendon tendonitis occurs (treatment and symptoms are presented in your article) will soon give a positive result. The pain subsides and mobility is restored.
Traditional medicine for tendonitis
With many diseases, alternative treatment can help. Achilles tendon tendon also lends itself well to it. The most effective ways can be called:
- Massage with ice. To do this, take plastic cups and pour water into them, put them in the freezer. When the liquid freezes, the injured area is massaged with the top of the container for 15-20 minutes several times a day.
- "Home gypsum." Beat the chicken protein and add 1 tablespoon of alcohol or vodka. Beat well and add a tablespoon of flour. The mixture is applied to an elastic bandage and bandage the sore spot. It is necessary to change such a bandage every day, it will help relieve swelling and pain.
- Folk healers recommend adding turmeric to the diet. Curcumin, which it contains, helps relieve pain and remove inflammation.
- The use of salt dressings. First you need to dissolve a tablespoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Moisten a napkin in the liquid, squeeze it, wrap it in a bag and place in the freezer for several minutes. Apply to a sore spot and bandage, hold until the tissue is completely dry.
If there is tendonitis of the Achilles tendon, treatment with folk remedies can be carried out using infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs:
- Prepare the infusion from a tablespoon of comfrey, calendula and 250 ml of hot water. Bring to a boil, insist for several hours, and then dilute 1 tablespoon of the infusion in 300 ml of water and make a bandage on the injured place.
- Compress from elecampane. It is necessary to take 3 tablespoons of grass and pour 0.5 liters of hot water, boil for 15 minutes. Dampen a napkin in a decoction and attach to a sore spot.
- The use of pine branches for the preparation of baths. It is necessary to take a bucket and fill it with twigs of pine for two-thirds, add cold water and boil for half an hour. Then you need to insist 2-3 hours and take baths for 15-20 minutes.
- Use a mixture of 2 drops of fir and lavender oils to grind the sore spot, and also add a teaspoon of any vegetable.
- Wormwood tincture has a restorative effect on the body and relieves inflammation. To cook it, you need to take 2 tablespoons of dry grass and pour 250 ml of boiling water, after 30 minutes of infusion, take a tablespoon several times a day.
After the compress, you can recommend the use of one of the ointments:
- Calendula ointment will help to cope with the inflammatory process. Cooking is quite simple: you need to mix in equal amounts baby cream and calendula flowers. Apply to a sore spot is best at night.
- Take the same amount of pork fat and ointment from wormwood, combine and melt on fire. After cooling, it can be applied to the affected area.
- You can make clay ointment. To do this, take 500 g of clay and dilute it in water to the consistency of mastic, and then add 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Then moisten a napkin in the resulting composition and attach to the sore spot for an hour. The course of therapy is up to 6 procedures and helps get rid of pain and swelling.
Thus, if the diagnosis is Achilles tendon tendonitis, treatment with folk remedies will help to quickly return to your usual lifestyle.
Surgical intervention
If all conservative methods of treatment have been tried, but there is no result, then you will have to resort to surgical intervention. The doctor during the operation makes an incision and excises the affected area, and then the tendon is stitched. If there is a growth of Haglund, then it is also removed.
If you still had to resort to surgical intervention for a disease such as tendonitis of the Achilles tendon, treatment, rehabilitation after surgery will take a couple of months. You will have to wear a special boot for 6 weeks. Gradually, after about a couple of weeks, you can try to step on the operated leg.
After removal of the orthosis, a rehabilitation course is prescribed, which will help fully restore the functioning of the tendon. This usually takes from a month to three.
Special exercises for tendonitis
After surgery, the complex of exercises will help to recover faster. Here are some recommendations for their implementation:
- In the first place is walking, for this you need to choose comfortable shoes and in the process of moving to smoothly roll from heel to toe. Walking time, speed and stride length must be increased gradually.
- It is recommended to do the rise on toes and semi-squats.
- Well help restore exercise in water. The body loses most of the weight, so those exercises that cannot be done in the gym for a certain period can be safely performed in water.
- Running is possible only after a good workout.
- It is useful to perform exercises for stretching the calf muscles and tendon, for this stand near the wall, lean on your hands, and put the injured leg back and rest on the toe. Stay in this position for 30 seconds.
- Stand on the edge of the platform and squat. This exercise enhances the strength and elasticity of the Achilles tendon.
Carrying out any exercises, it is necessary to remember that the load should increase gradually. You can return to sports training only after the permission of the attending physician.
How to prevent the development of pathology
We examined a disease such as tendonitis of the Achilles tendon. Its treatment and prevention should be at the proper level in order to prevent the development of pathology. For this, the following recommendations should be observed:
- With age, the elasticity of the tendon decreases, so after 40 years it is necessary to lead a mobile lifestyle and be sure to include those that will help to engage the calf muscles in the complex of exercises.
- When playing sports or any exercise, you should not immediately begin the basic exercises, you need to do a warm-up and stretching complex.
- All athletes must monitor compliance with the training regimen; muscles should not be overloaded.
- For any sports activities you need to choose the right shoes.
If you consult a doctor with the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease and follow all the recommendations for treatment and recovery, then the prognosis for Achilles tendon tendonitis is quite favorable. Gradually, the tissue will recover, the inflammatory process will come to naught, and it will be possible to return to a sports regime or a familiar lifestyle. But you must always remember that our health is only in our hands, so take care of yourself.